SKIN MATURATED AND WILD FERMENT
Kasteelberg Wines

As you can recognise a countryman by his distinct accent, the Badlands and Phoenix Ranges salutes the Swartland’s countryside. These wines are intended to wear its origin on its sleeve, expressing the arid, somewhat treacherous vineyard growing conditions. Yet, while ripened under a scorching sun with little water to its disposal, these roots delve deep in search of water, adding a remarkable quality and balance to the wines it produces. These conditions have become a part of the Swartland signature, producing beautiful intensity and fruit purity.

Making way for wines that celebrate heritage, unashamedly robust in style, the Badlands and Phoenix Ranges are the premium gems in the Gentis crown. These flagship wines emanate from a Chenin Blanc Heritage project site and are joined by an intensely inky Petite Sirah, also known as Durif, and bushvine, carbonic fermented Shiraz. Honouring its terroir, the wines start with minimal intervention, receiving extended cold-soaking on the skins to extract that quintessential Swartland flavours and aroma. All three wines are fermented wild to accentuate a sense of place, the Chenin Blanc whole bunch pressed to build as much character into the wine as possible. At the same time, Durif derives that extra finesse from extended post-fermentation on its skins and Shiraz gains its intense flavour from the carbonic maturation.